An Anniversary and a New Explorer [November 2018]

Point Lookout State Park - MD October 2013

We purchased our ShoreXplorer motorhome in the Fall of 2013.  After camping in our driveway for several weekends, and a test trip to our River house, we took our first “Xplore” in October 2013.  At the time of purchase, the motor home had only been driven a little over 11,000 miles.

Luray Caverns  VA- October 2018

5 years later, the odometer reads over 61,000; we’ve driven 50,000 miles!  And what an adventure we've had!  We have visited 32 States and 5 Canadian Provinces, and written 212 blog posts.  We have explored ocean coastlines, rivers, lakes, prairies and mountains.  We have kayaked in the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bay of Fundy, estuaries of the Atlantic Ocean, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and smaller, lesser known bodies of water.  We’ve snorkeled to see pretty fish in the Florida Keys and to harvest scallops in the Gulf of Mexico.  We have visited beautiful homes, fascinating historic sites, and interesting museums.

Introducing the Lil'Xplorer

Last month, we added the Lil’Xplorer to our rig, a 2018 Ford Fiesta car.  After 5 years of taking the motor home on day trips, taking shuttles provided by the campgrounds, calling Uber, riding our bicycles, renting cars, or having friends and relatives pick us up at our campsite for a visit, we have given ourselves the greater flexibility of bringing our own car with us.  In the RV lexicon, these vehicles are referred to as "toads" or "dinghys".

A stop on our way South... November 2018

With our dinghy, we have grown from 30 feet to 48 feet long.  Our recent Pennsylvania trip and our dash down I-95 to South Georgia over the past 2 days, has taught us how to judge when it is safe to change lanes in front of another vehicle.  The mountainous Pennsylvania trip gave us experience judging our new weight and speed when chugging up steep slopes and downshifting down the other side.

Hiking the Skyline Drive VA - October 2018

Tomorrow, we will drive the Lil’Xplorer to the dock of the passenger ferry that will take us to Cumberland Island National Seashore.  Look for more adventures in days to come!